Sports

Stanford's Stefani heads to Bulgaria with USA rowing

Stanford senior Jovanni Stefani leads the United States Men's Eight into the World Rowing Under 23 Championships beginning Thursday in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Photo by David Bernal/isiphotos.com.

Stanford senior Jovanni Stefani leads the United States Men's Eight into the World Rowing Under 23 Championships beginning Thursday in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

Stefani, an engineering major who recently completed his junior year at Stanford, will stroke the U.S. men's eight at the U23 World Championships.

Heat racing in the men's eight event begins July 20, with the U.S. facing Great Britain, Italy, Netherlands, Romania and Czech Republic at 1:35 p.m. PT. The heat winner will advance straight into the A Final on July 23. The five other crews will move on to the repechage. There are 11 total entries in the men's eight event at the regatta.

Stefani has rowed in the varsity eight each of his first three seasons on The Farm, serving in the Cardinal's top boat in every regatta each of the last two seasons. Stanford's varsity eight placed eighth overall at the 2016 Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships and finished second in the third-level final at the 2017 IRA Championships.

Stefani competed primarily in the two seat in the Cardinal's varsity eight during the 2017 season.

The Cardinal competed in the 2016 U23 World Rowing Championships, rowing in the USRowing pair with Stanford teammate Brennan Wertz. They captured the Bronze medal at

Stefani and Wertz rowed together in the USRowing Pair that won a bronze medal for the United States in the 2016 Under 23 World Rowing Championships in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Men's swimming

Two-time Pennsylvania swimming champion Mason Gonzalez announced on his Instagram account that he committed to Stanford.

Gonzalez wrote:

“I am honored and excited to announce my verbal commitment to swim and study at Stanford University! I cannot wait to be a part of such an amazing program, and I know the opportunities I will have there will help me achieve my goals both in and out of the pool. Go Card!"

Gonzalez, who competes with the Allegheny North Swim Club, won both the 50 free and 100 free at the state meet.